1946 NFL draft


The 1946 NFL draft was held on January 14, 1946, at the Commodore Hotel in New [York City, New York].
The selections were initially withheld from the public out of fear that the newly formed All-America Football Conference would sign away players selected high. With the first overall pick of the draft, the Boston Yanks selected quarterback Frank Dancewicz. The most notable draft choice in this player selection meeting was made by the Washington Redskins and remains one of the biggest draft blunders of all time. They chose Cal Rossi with the 9th overall pick, but Rossi, a junior at UCLA, was not eligible to be drafted. They chose him again in the 1947 NFL draft, but he never played football professionally.

Player selections

Round 7

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
51Chicago CardinalsPat LenshanEndTennessee
52Boston YanksEd MieszkowskiTackleNotre Dame
53Pittsburgh SteelersTom ReinhardtTackleMinnesota
54Chicago BearsWendell BeardTackleCalifornia
55New York GiantsJim PlylerTackleTexas Longhorns football team|Texas]
56Green Bay PackersArt RennerEndMichigan
57Philadelphia EaglesGeorge RobothamEndUCLA
58Detroit LionsPete BerezneyTackleNotre Dame
59Washington RedskinsBob HendrenTackleUSC
60Los Angeles RamsDolly KingEndGeorgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]

Round 8

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
61Chicago CardinalsPhil TinsleyEndAlabama
62Boston YanksChet LipkaEndBoston College
63Pittsburgh SteelersJoe PonsettoBackMichigan
64Chicago BearsJohn ZieglerBackColorado
65New York GiantsGene RobertsBackChattanooga
66Green Bay PackersBert ColeTackleOklahoma A&M Cowboys football team|Oklahoma A&M]
67Detroit LionsKeith DeCourceyBackWashington
68Philadelphia EaglesJim LectureGuardNorthwestern
69Washington RedskinsGeorge CallananBackUSC
70Los Angeles RamsJoe WhislerBackOhio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]

Round 9

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
71Chicago CardinalsJake ColhouerGuardOklahoma A&M
72Boston YanksAl DekdebrunBackCornell
73Pittsburgh SteelersBob EvansBackPenn
74Chicago BearsWalt DropoEndConnecticut
75New York GiantsMike HarrisGuardMississippi State
76Green Bay PackersGrant DarnellGuardTexas A&M
77Philadelphia EaglesErnie LewisBackColorado
78Detroit LionsBill HedgesTackleWest Texas State
79Washington RedskinsBob SkoglundEndNotre Dame
80Los Angeles RamsMike SchumchykEndArkansas

Round 10

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
81Chicago CardinalsTom BarberTackleChattanooga
82Boston YanksRex JohnTackleWisconsin
83Pittsburgh SteelersMel BonwellBackCentral (IA)
84Chicago BearsBill HarrisCenterAuburn
85New York GiantsWalt ClayBackColorado
86Green Bay PackersJoe McAfeeBackHoly Cross
87Detroit LionsThornton DixonTackleOhio State
88Philadelphia EaglesAl VandewegheEndWilliam & Mary
89Washington RedskinsJake LeichtBackOregon Ducks football team|Oregon]
90Los Angeles RamsJoe SignaigoGuardNotre Dame

Round 11

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
91Chicago CardinalsDick LoepfeTackleWisconsin
92Boston YanksBob WestBackColorado
93Pittsburgh SteelersDoc HollowayGuardWilliam & Mary
94Chicago BearsEddie AllenBackPenn
95New York GiantsWarren AmlingGuardOhio State
96Green Bay PackersSteve ConroyBackHoly Cross
97Philadelphia EaglesBill IancelliEndFranklin & Marshall
98Detroit LionsBob StevensBackOregon State
99Washington RedskinsChick MaggioliBackIllinois
100Los Angeles RamsTom PhillipsBackOhio State

Round 12

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
101Chicago CardinalsVenton YablonskiBackColumbia
102Boston YanksMax DodgeEndNevada
103Pittsburgh SteelersCarroll OwenBackCatawba
104Chicago BearsFrank BaumanEndIllinois
105New York GiantsAl BushTackleDuke
106Green Bay PackersBill HildebrandEndMississippi State
107Detroit LionsPat FarrisTackleTexas Tech
108Philadelphia EaglesPat McHughBackGeorgia Tech
109Washington RedskinsMonte MoncriefTackleTexas A&M
110Los Angeles RamsTed StrojnyTackleHoly Cross

Round 13

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
111Chicago CardinalsLee LewisBackWashington
112Boston YanksJoe KirklandTackleVirginia
113Pittsburgh SteelersGeorge PoppinTackleNew Mexico
114Chicago BearsReed NostrumTackleUtah
115New York GiantsBob ReimanBackOregon State
116Green Bay PackersTom HandCenterIowa
117Philadelphia EaglesJohn WingenderBackWashington
118Detroit LionsPaul CopoulosBackMarquette
119Washington RedskinsJoe TereshinskiEndGeorgia
120Los Angeles RamsGeorge StrohmeyerCenterNotre Dame

Round 14

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
121Chicago CardinalsBob RussellBackMiami (OH)
122Boston YanksRalph VentrescoBackPenn State
123Pittsburgh SteelersBob McCainEndOle Miss
124Chicago BearsDick ChattertonBackBYU
125New York GiantsBob HazelhurstBackDenver
126Green Bay PackersGeorge HillsGuardGeorgia Tech
127Detroit LionsTy IrbyBackAuburn
128Philadelphia EaglesHomer PaineTackleTulsa
129Washington RedskinsStan SpragueEndIllinois
130Los Angeles RamsBob PalladinoBackNotre Dame

Round 15

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
131Chicago CardinalsFred RovaiGuardNotre Dame
132Boston YanksJohn FureyTackleBoston College
133Pittsburgh SteelersTom TallchiefTackleOklahoma
134Chicago BearsJohnny TimkoCenterTemple
135New York GiantsStan StapleyTackleUtah
136Green Bay PackersJim HoughBackClemson
137Philadelphia EaglesJohn KernsTackleOhio
138Detroit LionsPat ThrashEndSouth Carolina
139Washington RedskinsHarry AdelmanEndUSC
140Los Angeles RamsDick LorenzEndOregon State

Round 16

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
141Chicago CardinalsRay EvansTackleTexas Western
142Boston YanksBill SwiackiEndColumbia
143Pittsburgh SteelersAl PerlBackYoungstown State
144Chicago BearsTed HazelwoodTackle1945 [North Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina]
145New York GiantsNick TerlizziTackleAlabama
146Green Bay PackersDean GainesTackleGeorgia Tech
147Detroit LionsKelly MoteEndDuke
148Philadelphia EaglesBuddy HubbardBackWilliam & Mary
149Washington RedskinsBob ButchofskyBackTexas A&M
150Los Angeles RamsLarry BouleyBackGeorgia

Round 17

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
151Chicago CardinalsBob LoubieBackMiami
152Boston YanksCharley TiedemanBackBrown
153Pittsburgh SteelersRuss LopezCenterWest Virginia
154Chicago BearsDick JohnsonCenterBaylor
155New York GiantsRay JustakGuardNorthwestern
156Green Bay PackersJ. P. MillerGuardGeorgia
157Philadelphia EaglesAllen SmithBackTulsa
158Detroit LionsBill ScruggBackRice
159Washington RedskinsMike PrashawTackleMichigan
160Los Angeles RamsGasper UrbanGuardNotre Dame

Round 18

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
161Chicago CardinalsFrank IrwinTackleDuke
162Boston YanksDon AlverezGuardDartmouth
163Pittsburgh SteelersBuck GarrisonGuardWake Forest
164Chicago BearsArt BoettcherBackShurtleff
165New York GiantsBob MorrisBackUSC
166Green Bay PackersBoyd MorseEndArizona
167Detroit LionsBen WallBackCentral Michigan
168Philadelphia EaglesBernie MillhamEndFordham
169Washington RedskinsEd RobnettBackTexas Tech
170Los Angeles RamsBob WiseGuardColorado

Round 19

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
171Chicago CardinalsPride RatterreeGuardWake Forest
172Boston YanksJack BurnsBackTemple
173Pittsburgh SteelersBill CloudTackleTemple
174Chicago BearsTom GallagherBackIllinois
175New York GiantsTom LoflinEndLSU
176Green Bay PackersJoe BradfordCenterUSC
177Philadelphia EaglesLawrence MaussCenterUtah
178Detroit LionsMerlin KispertBackMinnesota
179Washington RedskinsLaMar DykstraBackColorado
180Los Angeles RamsJerry FordEndNotre Dame

Round 20

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
181Chicago CardinalsBill HeywoodBackNotre Dame
182Boston YanksFrank RuggerioBackNotre Dame
183Pittsburgh SteelersMike GarbinskiBackPenn State
184Chicago BearsJohnny AdamsBackDenver
185New York GiantsDick KellyBackMinnesota
186Green Bay PackersBill DeRosaBackBoston College
187Detroit LionsDon MalmbergTackleUCLA
188Philadelphia EaglesDave ButcherBackWilliam & Mary
189Washington RedskinsBob WardBackSan Jose State
190Los Angeles RamsBob AlbrechtBackMarquette

Round 21

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
191Chicago CardinalsAl TraughtBackMiami
192Boston YanksJack PriceBackBaylor
193Pittsburgh SteelersCharley LoiacanoCenterLafayette
194Chicago BearsDean WidsethTackleBemidji State
195New York GiantsMel PattonBackSanta Clara
196Green Bay PackersRalph GrantBackBucknell
197Philadelphia EaglesDon FablingBackColorado
198Detroit LionsNed MaloneyEndPurdue
199Washington RedskinsJohn PeharTackleUSC
200Los Angeles RamsCliff LewisBackDuke

Round 22

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
201Chicago CardinalsClem AndrulewiczTackleVillanova
202Boston YanksIke IgleheartGuardTulane
203Pittsburgh SteelersGeorge JohnsonTacklePittsburgh
204Chicago BearsGeorge KochinsTackleBucknell
205New York GiantsBill StiersBackUCLA
206Green Bay PackersHowie BrownGuardIndiana
207Detroit LionsJack SimmonsBackDetroit
208Philadelphia EaglesGeorge FeldmanBackTufts
209Washington RedskinsRoger RobinsonBackSyracuse
210Los Angeles RamsBob RichardsonTackleMarquette

Round 23

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
211Chicago CardinalsAdam RakowskiEndPenn
212Boston YanksBill LevittCenterMiami (FL)
213Pittsburgh SteelersBill LeitheiserGuardDuke
214Chicago BearsAl HoischBackStanford
215New York GiantsVernon HareBackSanta Clara
216Green Bay PackersAndy KosmacCenterLSU
217Philadelphia EaglesEd CameronGuardMiami
218Detroit LionsJoe PulteEndDetroit
219Washington RedskinsCharley CadenheadCenterMississippi State
220Los Angeles RamsDerald LebowBackOklahoma

Round 24

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
221Chicago CardinalsJack McKenzieBackNorthwestern
222Boston YanksMike KarmazinEndDuke
223Pittsburgh SteelersRoger AdamsCenterFlorida
224Chicago BearsVisco GrgichEndSanta Clara
225New York GiantsNeil ScullyBackDayton
226Green Bay PackersMaurice StacyBackWashington
227Detroit LionsBob FunderbergBackNorthwestern
228Philadelphia EaglesCharley SteedBackArkansas–Monticello
229Washington RedskinsBob RadosGuardSanta Clara
230Los Angeles RamsBill LippincottBackWashington State

Round 25

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
231Chicago CardinalsTom WorthingtonTackleTulsa
232Boston YanksChet LatchamGuardDenver
233Pittsburgh SteelersBob VerkinsBackTulsa
234Chicago BearsAllen RichardsBackCincinnati
235New York GiantsGeorge MillerTackleDenver
236Green Bay PackersChick DavidsonTackleCornell
237Philadelphia EaglesEd GrygielBackDartmouth
238Detroit LionsEd StaccoTackleColgate
239Washington RedskinsCharlie WebbEndLSU
240Los Angeles RamsKay JamisonEndFlorida

Round 26

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
241Chicago CardinalsJim VugrinGuardTennessee
242Boston YanksGordon BotsfordEndBoston University
243Pittsburgh SteelersClarence CastleBackOle Miss
244Chicago BearsJess TunstillBackKentucky
245New York GiantsBarney WhiteEndTulsa
246Green Bay PackersJohn NortonBackWashington
247Detroit LionsRoger AndersonGuardOregon State
248Philadelphia EaglesBen RaimondiBackIndiana
249Washington RedskinsMarion FlanaganBackTexas A&M
250Los Angeles RamsD. J. GambrellCenterAlabama

Round 27

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
251Chicago CardinalsJesse HerschbargerEndSMU
252Boston YanksJohn KauffmanGuardOregon
253Pittsburgh SteelersMarchi MarinoTacklePenn State
254Chicago BearsKen SmockBackPurdue
255New York GiantsButch KalensGuardIllinois
256Green Bay PackersEd HoltsingerBackGeorgia Tech
257Philadelphia EaglesSam BaileyEndGeorgia
258Detroit LionsChuck MurdockEndGeorgia Tech
259Washington RedskinsRoland PhillipsTackleGeorgia Tech
260Los Angeles RamsJoe Ben DickeyBackColorado

Round 28

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
261Chicago CardinalsNewman LedbetterTackleTexas Tech
262Boston YanksDon GleasnerEndMaryland
263Pittsburgh SteelersBob HansenEndUCLA
264Chicago BearsHoward WeldonGuardNorth Carolina
265New York GiantsCharlie EllisBackVirginia
266Green Bay PackersJoe CampbellEndHoly Cross
267Detroit LionsDick Van DuesenCenterMinnesota
268Philadelphia EaglesBob LongBackTennessee
269Washington RedskinsJim HallmarkBackTexas A&M
270Los Angeles RamsMarty GrbovazEndSan Francisco

Round 29

Pick #NFL teamPlayerPositionCollege
271Chicago CardinalsAlton BaldwinEndArkansas
272Boston YanksCarl McKinnonGuardDartmouth
273Pittsburgh SteelersLarry GravesTackleNewberry
274Chicago BearsJohnny CookBackGeorgia
275New York GiantsSteve LucasEndDuke
276Green Bay PackersFrancis SaundersTackleClemson
277Philadelphia EaglesBill FisherTackleHarvard
278Detroit LionsBill AgnewBackCalifornia
279Washington RedskinsFay MillsTackleAlabama
280Los Angeles RamsJay PerrinTackleUSC

Hall of Famers

  • George Connor, tackle from Notre Dame taken 1st round 5th overall by the New York Giants.